bbbWhentheeldestgrandsonofMr.Kang(ChoiSeong-ho),aprominentlocalfigureinthevillageofSuriinHwanghae-do,becomesafflictedwithamysterious,life-threateningillness,theentirehouseholdisplungedinanxiety.Theimminentdeathofthedirectheirtothefamilynameisaseriousmatterindeed,sincetheKangshaveahistoryofseeingtheirsonsdieyoungafactthathasresultedinahouseholdteamingwithwidows.Thefamilymatriarch(HwangJung-seun)callsinthemostfamousshamansandhasthemperformhealingrituals,buttheillnessshowsnosignofimproving.ThefamilystewardrecommendsthattheybringinOk-hwa(YooJi-in),whoisrenownedforherextraordinaryspiritualpowers.Whilesheisperformingtheritual,alargesnakedropsdownfromtheeavesofthehouseandcausesacommotion.Amazingly,theincidentbringsaboutadramaticimprovementintheconditionofMr.Kang'sgrandson.Thehouseholdbuzzeswithgladexcitement,witheveryoneclingingtoOk-hwaandaskinghertocurethediseaseoutright.ButOk-hwasearchesallaroundasifpossessedbyaspiritanddiscoversasinister-lookinggourdbottleburieddeepinthegroundinthepineforest.Thisbottlehidesabloodysecret.　　Sometwentyyearsago,therewas,intheKangfamily,ayoungwidowbythenameofLee(KimYun-kyeong).Boundbystrictmoralcodes,Leewaslivingalonelylifeofenforcedcelibacy.Shehadtakentostabbingherthighwithasmallsilverknifeeverynightinordertosuppressherfrustrateddesires,butthewoundbecameinfectedandshecameonthevergeofdeath.Accordingtofamilytradition,theKangsremovedLeetoanisolatedhut(calledpi-makinKorean),andlefthertheretoawaitherowndeath.Thefamilymatriarch,wishingtograntherdaughter-in-lawonefinalwish,arrangedforhertospendanightwiththehutkeeper,Sam-dol(NamKoong-won).ThroughSam-dol'sdevotedcare,Leemiraculouslyrecoveredandthetwodevelopeddeepfeelingsforeachother.Thematriarchwelcomedherdaughter-in-law'srecoveryatfirst,butbecameenragedwhenshefoundoutaboutLee'sadulterousrelationshipwithSam-dol.Aspunishment,theKangfamilysecretlymurderedbothSam-dolandLee.　　Ok-hwa,whoisinfactSam-dol'sdaughter,wasmerelypretendingtobeashamaninordertoexactrevengeforherfather.Possessedbyarealspirit,sheattemptstokillMr.Kanginsidethehutbutletshimgounscathed.Sheentersthehut,setsitonfire,anddiesintheflames.